Sturmer White with a 14 pound striper, November 2008. Photo courtesy of Jerry Neuburger

May 30, 2009 -- AB 1253, the notorious, "striper extermination" bill, now defanged, has cleared the Assembly Appropriations Committee and will go to the Assembly floor for a vote. The bill, as authored by Assembly woman Jean Fuller of Bakersfield would have removed all sportfishing regulations protecting the striped bass. However, some last minute maneuvering by the Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee chair, Jared Huffman caused Fuller to amend her bill to a study of the effects of population altering predation on native species including a study of the damage done to delta fisheries by the state and federal pumps.

The last minute changes were not known on the April morning of the Committee hearing when almost 200 striper fishermen and various organizations including CSPA showed up to protest the bill. All spoke against the bill, even as amended since they did not have a copy of the freshly amended text in hand. Even so, the amended bill cleared committee with all voting eye except Assemblywoman Yamada from Rio Vista who stated the amended bill did not meet the minimum requirements for legislative action.

After the confusion of the morning's meeting, CSPA staff had the opportunity to examine the amended bill in more detail and found that the bill contained some worthwhile elements.

First, the bill currently calls for a review of the literature to determine if predation affects endangered species at population altering levels. From contact with numerous scientists and review of numerous studies, CSPA is confident that no such predation takes place. CSPA believes the review will substantiate that finding and in doing so, may once and for all, end the debate of predation as a factor in the decline of the delta's fisheries.

However, of greater interest and something that CSPA believes of extreme importance is the review of, "existing studies on fish salvage methods and other mitigation protocols at state and federal pumping facilities and recommendations for changes in methodologies to improve survival."

When the graphs of the years of ever increasing pumping are overlaid on similar graphs of the decline of the bay/delta's pelagic organisms including salmon, steelhead, striped bass, sturgeon, the delta smelt and other fisheries it becomes immediately apparent that the ever increasing demand for the delta's water is having catastrophic effects on the delta's fisheries.

In addition, the original plans for fish salvage at the pumps were in many cases, either not implemented or found to be inadequate. The resultant destruction of millions of young fry has never been adequately addressed and no adequate mitigation has been forthcoming. A review of the salvage and mitigation process and agreements is long overdue. That being the case, CSPA supports AB 1253, as currently amended.

To read the full text of the bill go to the CSPA Bill Tracker page and enter 1253, in the Assembly Bill  box and hit enter.